Help Us Help You

How Can We Help Each Other?

Contact FCR if you think that private foundations or corporations might have an interest in your project area.

Realize that proposal development is a process that requires your involvement. YOU are usually the best spokesperson for your project.

FCR can provide advice and consultation in preparing your approach to foundation and corporate prospects.

Discuss with your department chairperson and Dean about how to implement your ideas and the level of institutional support available for your project or proposed activity.

Funders often want to see a demonstrated institutional commitment before awarding a grant.

When should I contact the Office of Research?

Start with the Office of Research for assistance with research support and any government funding (including NIH and NSF).

If your prospects include private foundations or corporations, you should contact FCR to seek clearance for such an approach.

Notify the designated ORCA contact for your college/school of all foundation and corporate proposal submissions.

Within what time frame should I contact Foundations and Corporate Relations with my request?

If you need to have institutional endorsement for a completed proposal, please allow at least a week.

If you want us to critique a proposal, please allow at least two weeks.

If you are starting with only a project idea, please allow at least a few months, and the time frame will depend on the idea and what we already have on our schedule.

How could I prepare my proposed idea?

Many foundations and corporations make their philanthropic or research interests and guidelines widely available on their websites. A review of these can often be the best initial step in determining, prior to direct contact with FCR or the prospective funder, whether your project might be a match with the organization's interests.

Foundation and Corporate Relations offers a wide range of resources for Drexel faculty and administrators who seek external funding for their academic research and programs:

Strategizing, prioritizing and coordinating foundation interface and support